Lifting implement



July 30, 1940. E. F. SHIPMAN ET AL LIFTING IMPLEMENT Filed Dec. 19, 1939 INV-ENTORS. EMANUEL F'SHIFMAN w. WILLIAM STA R A TTORNE Y.

Patented July 30, 19 40 UNITED stares PATENT" OFFICE- Emanuel F. Shipman, Philadelphia, and William Stader, Perkasie, Pa,

Application December 19, 1939, Serial'No. 309,946

' iociafimsa (01. 294-44) This invention relates to a lifting device for sheet metal plates and the like, and has particular reference to a suction lifting device.

In lifting, placing and-removing sheet metal blanks, plates and the like from metal dies, it is desired to keep the-fingers and hands of the operatorfrom between said dies because careful as the operator may be, the machine is oftimes operated, ending in serious injury to the operator.

The present invention is an improvement on the invention of one of the applicants herein which resulted in United States Letters Patent No. 1,400,573, patented December 20, 1921.

The object of the present invention is to pro; vide'a lifting device of the character described wherein the parts are more positive in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lifting device where there is absolutely no danger of leakage of air into the cup as there "is only oneaperture to be covered.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lifting device which can be readily operated at all times, and in which the suction cup is readily removable and renewable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned wherein the same can be made from standard stock parts.

Accordingto the invention, the lifting implement comprises a handle having a flat end and a hole through the same, a suction cup having a shank fitting in said hole, and a button of larger diameter than said hole and bearing against the upper side of said handle, said-cup having an aperture communicating with the inside of same and extending through said shank and button to the atmosphere, and a trigger pivotally connecting said handle and having a flat part nor-' mally urged against said button to close said aperture.

The drawing illustrates an embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Figure 1 is a side view of the implement with the suction cup shown in section and apartof the handle broken away,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing the cup, 1

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, and

Figures 5, 6 and '7 are fragmentary end views of the device with the cup omitted, and'shows the. mannerv of turning down the endof the trig? ger to prevent any article from entering the space between the handle and trigger, and thus preventing the effective seatingof the trigger over the aperture. v

'As illustrated in'the drawing, the handle or 5 body portion: ll-is constructed from channel metal, such for instance as duralumin. The legs 12 and I3 of the channel are bent down at the rear of said-handle portion as shown in Figure 4 so as to provide the gripping member 14. The 10 front of the" handle or body member II is cut back, as at 16-, and the flat part of the channel 1? is provided with ahole I8. This mole may be 'ger'memberis-cut back, as at 22, so-that above the; hole l8- nothing remains except the flat'botto'm 23-.-- The rear end of the trigger is bent upward, as shownin' Figure 1, by virtue of the tap'ering'part 24,- and' terminates ina part 26 substantiallyiparallel with the handle; I The handle H has a pin 21 on the flat part and in the channel while the, trigger has a like pin- 28 locatedsimilarly.- Between these pins is a spiral springfl29... I

From this description, itv will be seen that the spring 29 urges the flat end 23 of the trigger at alltimestowardthe hole I8 in the handle. l. The handle is" provided with. a rubber suction cup 3 I. Thisisuction cup hasan inside bell-shape chamberv 32 and-has a shank 33 which is received into and completely fills the hole IS in, the. end thereof. Aside from this integral shank portion therev is'an integral button 34 whose lower end, whenit; contacts .the handle, is flat while the cup part proper also has a flatpart 36' where it abuts the lower faceof the channeled handle. The rubher member is substantially the shape of a oflthe' trigger 23, and this extension is bent down and in front of thefla't' portion of'thehandle H where thetrigger'is in normal position, Figure-6. shows another form of bent extension 38 while Figure '7 shows still another form 39. The last three views are intended to show methods of forming the trigger end to exclude objects from getting between the operating parts, and thus preventing the proper seating of the trigger end 23.

The suction cup 3| has an aperture 4| centrally located and extending from the inside 32 of the cup through the shank 33 and button 34 to the atmosphere. However, this openi which may be tapered as shown in Figure 1, is never opened to atmosphere except when the rear part 26 of the trigger member I9 is depressed by compressing the spring 29, and upon release, it will always return to cover said aperture. It will, of course, be understood that there will be a slight displacement of the rubber surrounding the aperture 4| in the cup and that an effectual seal will always be provided by the fiat end 23 of the trigger.

This cup 3| shown in the drawing has been carried through a long series of experimental tests in places where the implement is intended to be used, and. it has proven, after hundreds of thousands of operations, to stand up well and never to be withdrawn from the handle. making of the cup integrally prevents any wearing around the screw which was used for holding the cup in the patent heretofore mentioned, and there being no metal within the chamber 32 of the cup, highly polished nickeled,- japanned, stainless steel and the like can never be marred by having the cup forced down on the same which was one diificulty experienced with the device as disclosed by the patent hereinbefore mentioned.

Of course, the lifting implement herein illustrated and described may be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the invention herein set forthand hereafter claimed.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A lifting implement comprising a handle having a fiat end and a hole through same, a suction-cup having a shank fitting in said hole and a button of substantial heightand of larger diameter than'said hole and bearingagainst the upper side of said handle, said cup having an aperture communicating with theinside of same and extending through said shank and button, and a trigger pivotally-connecting said handle and having a flat part normally urged against said button to close said aperture regardless of decrease in height ofsaid button. 1

2. A lifting implement comprising a. handle of channel shaped metal cut to produce a flat end with a; hole through same, a suction cup having a shank filling said hole and. an integral button of larger diameter than said hole and bearing against the upper side of said handle, said cup having an aperture communicating with the inside of same and extendingthrough said shank and button, said button being of substantial height, and a trigger of channel shaped metal inverted and fitting in the channel of said handle, a pivotal connection between said trigger and handle, said trigger having a flat part normally urged against said button to close said aperture regardless of decrease in height of said button.

3. A lifting. implement comprising a handle having a fiat end and a .hole' through same, a suction cup having a shank fitting in said hole and a button of larger diameter than said hole andbearing against the upper side of said handle, said cup having an aperture communicating with the-:insideof same and extending through said shank .'an,d button, and. a .trigger .pivotally con- The necting said handle and having a flat part normally urged against said button to close said hole, the fiat part of said trigger terminating in a bent down part to exclude the entrance of any object which will prevent said fiat part from seating to close said aperture.

4. A lifting implement comprising a handle of channel shaped metal cut to produce a fiat end with a hole through same, a suction cup having a shank filling said hole and an integral button of larger diameter than said hole and bearing against the upper side of said handle, said cup having an aperture communicating with the inside of same and extending through said shank and button, and a trigger of channel shaped metal inverted and fitting in the channel of said handle, a pivotal connection between said trigger and handle, said trigger having a fiat part normally urged against said button to close said hole, the flat part of said trigger terminating in a bent down part to exclude the entrance of any object which will prevent said flat part from seating to close said aperture.

5. A lifting implement comprising a handle having a hole through same, a rubber suction cup member comprising a cup proper, a shank and a button, said shank being of less diameter than said cup and button and having a cylindrical part terminating in outfiaring flat surfaces closer together than the thickness of said handle, said cup, shank and button having an aperture extending through same, and means for normally closing said aperture. v

6. A lifting implement comprising a handle having a hole through same, a rubber suction cup member comprising a cup proper, a shank and a button, said shank being of less diameter than said cup and button and terminating in fiat surfaces located closer together than thethickness of said handle, said cup, shank and button having an aperture extending through same and tapering outwardly toward the inside of said cup, and means for normally closing said aperture.

7. A lifting implement comprising a channel shaped handle having a hole through same taper ing outwardly toward the outer face of said channel handle base, a rubber suction cup member comprising a cup proper, a shank and a button, said shank being of less diameter than said cup and button and having flat walls located closer together than the thickness of said handle, said cup, shank and button having an aperture extending through same tapering outwardly toward the inside of said cup, and means for normally closing said aperture.

8. A lifting implement comprising a handle having a hole through same, a rubber suction cup member comprising a cup proper, a shank and a button, said shank being of less diameter than said cup and button and terminating in flat surfaces located closer together than the thickness of said handle, said cup, shank and button having an aperture extending through same, a trigger for normally closing said aperture, and a bentdown flange on said trigger to exclude the en-' trance of any object which will prevent said trigger from seating to close said aperture.

9. A lifting implement comprising a channel shaped handle having a hole through same taper ing outwardly toward the outer face of said handle base, a rubber suction cup member comprising a cup proper, a shank and a button, said shank being of less diameter than said cup and button and terminating in flat surfaces located closer together than the thickness. of said handle, said cup, shank and button having an aperture extending through same, a trigger for normally closing said aperture, and a bent-down flange on said trigger to exclude the entrance of any object which will prevent said trigger from seating to close said aperture.

10. A lifting implement comprising a handle having a flat end and a hole through same, a flexible member of slightly truncated cone shape having its larger end shaped to form a suction cup, an annular groove in the periphery of said member providing a shank with outfiaring side walls, and a button, said shank fitting into the;

hole in said handle and the side Walls engaging the surfaces thereof, said member having an aperture extending from said cup through said button, and a trigger having a fiat part normally urged against said button to close said aperture regardless of decrease in height of said button.

EMANUEL F. SH'IPMAN. WILLIAM STADER. 

